Sports news network is the first in the industry to launch a live-streaming application across over-the-top (OTT) streaming platforms.

- Challenges in supporting legacy hardware and older OTT devices.
- The Roku software development kit (SDK) is limited in delivering delightful user experiences and demands either a simple user interface or custom engineering.
- Overcoming and passing distinct and complex certification processes on all three platforms.
5 million-plus users live streaming Super Bowl LII after the launch of all three OTT applications
Industry analysts and critics cemented CBS Sports as the leader in sports industry innovation
CBS Sports HQ is now a go-to platform for fans watching all of CBS' key sporting content and events
CBS Sports chose TribalScale for our reputation for industry intelligence, thought leadership, and communicative, iterative processes. But more importantly, for our expertise and proven ability to build across OTT platforms. Our prior experience working with OTT has given us an advantage in understanding the complexities of the platform and being able to integrate OTT applications with ads, third parties, and in building application programming interfaces (APIs). Highlights of our work with CBS Sports include:
MARKET REACH
Our Agile software engineers built, tested, and released polished applications across the three leading OTT platforms — Apple TV, Roku, and Amazon Fire TV — giving CBS Sports access to over 75% of US households with OTT streaming devices.
MEETING DEMAND
Building off our understanding of the multi-billion-dollar sports industry and its fans, we built the CBS Sports HQ app in such a way that gives viewers 24/7 access to live feeds and talk show content, along with curated on-demand video.
MODERN TOOLS
To build a modern and native OTT application for each platform, we used the latest SDKs and worked around limited SDKs. To do so, we initially used a straightforward user interface and then iterated on the application based on user feedback to ensure a delightful and functional user experience.
MONETIZATION
CBS Sports wanted to make their sports content widely accessible and opted to create a free channel, supported by ads. We integrated video and banner ad APIs, along with live-content and video-on-demand content APIs. Ad-based monetization along with on-demand and live content streaming allowed CBS Sports to get ahead of its major competitors, who required cable subscriptions and premium bundles.
+ FireTV: Kotlin
+ Roku: BrightScript
All three OTT applications were successfully launched across the United States in time for Super Bowl LII, which saw a record-breaking 5 million-plus users live streaming the event.
By travelling to CBS Sports’ offices and pair programming with their engineering teams we were able to assist them with the engineering itself and support them through the application certification process to ensure success beyond the handover.
Shortly after launch, industry analysts and critics began to review the app, all of which were very positive and cemented CBS Sports as leader in sports industry innovation.
The number of viewers of CBS Sports HQ continues to climb and it is now a go-to platform for fans watching all of CBS' key sporting content and events, such as the NFL regular season and the Super Bowl, the Masters Tournament, major league drafts, and more.

Jim Lanzone
CEO, CBS Interactive and Chief Digital Officer, CBS CorporationLet's work together